Agricultural machine



June 27, 1939. 1.. J. P'FISTER 2,163,850

AGRICULTURAL MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1938 SShets-Sheet 1 Inventor Aiiorneys June 27,- 1939. PF|STER 2,163,850

AGRICULTURAL MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor L fl/fer A iiorneys June 27, 1939.

L. J. PFISTER 2,163,350 AGRICULTURAL MACHINE Filed Sept. 15, 1938 5Sheets-Sheet 3 I /0 Z A? r\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 71 v I V A) 6 {5aInventor Z. JP/Xsver Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED STATES} PATENT OFFICEAGRICULTURAL MAGHINE Lester J. Pfister, El Paso, Ill.

Application September 13, 1938, Serial No. 229,777

1 Claim.

15 More particularly the present invention has reference to an improvedwheel support for such machine.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be bestunderstood from a study 20 of the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation illustrating the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the 25 wheel assembly withcertain parts broken away and shown in section.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the ground wheel assembly.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a rod forming 30 part of the assembly.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5--5 ofFigure 2, and

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the wheel assembly.

5 Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen thatthe reference numeral l indicates a motor driven carrier of narrow gaugeand having rubber tire-equipped front and rear wheels arranged as shown.

40 Rising from the carrier I are uprights 2 on which is mounted atransversely elongated horizontal frame 3.

Suitably suspended from the frame 3 are platforms 4.

5 In actual practice the machine travels through a field of growingcorn, the carrier l passing between two rows and the platforms I5passing between other rows. Thus it will be seen that tassels may berapidly removed from a plurality 50 of rows of corn simultaneously byworkmen occupying the platforms l5. If desired the tassels may beremoved from the inner most rows of corn by workmenstanding on thecarrier I.

The machine as thus described is substantially 55 identical with themachine described in my aforementioned patent.

A salient feature of the present invention is in the provision of wheelassemblies 5 for supporting the outer ends of the frame 3. In accordancewith the present invention each wheel assembly 5 embodies a tubular rod6 that is telescoped within the lower end of a tubular member 1depending from the frame 3 and braced 5 relative to the frame throughthe medium of braces 8. The rod 6 is provided with a collar 9 that abutsthe lower end of the tubular member 1 to limit upward movement of therod 6 relative to the member I.

On the lower end thereof the rod 6 is provided with a pair of spacedparallel coextensive lugs l0 between which is pivoted as at H a leverI2. One end of the lever I2 is suitably secured to the axle housing l3of a ground wheel l4. On the upper end thereof the lever l2 isprovidedwith a cross-arm l5 with which are engaged coil springs l6 that are alsoengaged with a fixed plate I! provided on the rod 6 below the collar 9.

It will thus be seen that the springs l6 normally act to exert an upwardpull on the lever l2 thus urging the wheel I 4 into engagement with theground.

Manifestly the wheels l4 materially assist in supporting the outer endportions of the frame 3 and the resilient mountings of the wheels permitthe same to pass readily over any irregularities or obstructions thatare encountered.

'It is also apparent that the rods 6, are free to turn with the tubularmembers 1 so that substantially a swivel mounting, as well as a.resilient one is provided for each wheel M.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utilityand advantages of an invention of this character will be had without amore detailed description thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

Frame supporting means comprising a vertically arranged tubular member,having its upper end connected with the frame, a rod vertically arrangedand having its upper part slidably and rotatably supported in saiddepending member,

a collar on the rod engaging the lower end of the tubular member forlimiting upward movement of the rod, spaced depending ears at the lowerend of the rod, a lever having an intermediate part pivoted between theears, a horizontal spindle carried by one end of the lever and extendingat right angles to the lever, a wheel rotatably arranged on the spindle,a cross arm at the other end of the lever, a cross plate carried by therod below the collar and springs connecting the plate with the cross armand tending to move the lever in a direction to press the wheel againstthe ground.

LESTER J. PFISTER.

